Maybe you need to square and flatten your exhaust flanges.  The stock
gaskets last a long time for me - 8 years or more.

On Mon, Mar 24, 2008 at 5:46 PM, David Kao <dtkao0205@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Is it a good/bad idea to make your own exhaust gasket using sheet copper
> available from hardware store? Has anyone tried this? I will soon begin
> to dismantle my 84's engine and replace the tranny at the same time.
> The engine will receive a set of new Cofap and a pair of used heads.
> I can anticipate need of a set of new exhaust gaskets. The gaskets seem
> to crap out quickly and not cheap. I am seeking an alternative.
>
> David
>
>
> --- Mike <mbucchino@CHARTER.NET> wrote:
>
> >  Metal won't get stuck to what it's clamped against, but composite may.
> > Which part is easier to remove and scrape a baked-on gasket off of?  I'd
> put
> > metal towards the head, for that reason alone............
> >
> > Mike B.
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Jim Felder" <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
> > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> > Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2008 8:18 PM
> > Subject: Re: exhaust gasket question 2.1
> >
> >
> > > Thanks, all, as usual. Metal to the head it will be.
> > > Jim
> > >
> > > On Thu, Mar 20, 2008 at 7:01 PM, Jake de Villiers <
> > > crescentbeachguitar@gmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > >> I've always put the metal side to the source of the heat whatever the
> > >> make
> > >> of engine but I remember a post not too long ago that espoused the
> > >> opposite.
> > >>
> > >> In 35 years of hot rodding etc I've never had a problem when putting
> the
> > >> metal side to the exhaust port.   :)
> > >>
> > >> On Thu, Mar 20, 2008 at 4:44 PM, Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com>
> wrote:
> > >>
> > >> > My first question is why does a Vanagon full gasket set come with
> only
> > >> > two
> > >> > head-to-pipe gaskets when it requires four?
> > >> > My real question is which side goes toward the head, the composite
> side
> > >> > or
> > >> > the metal side?
> > >> >
> > >> > Obviously I'm talking about the kind that's thin steel bonded or
> > >> > crimped
> > >> > to
> > >> > a composite material.
> > >> >
> > >> > Thanks,
> > >> >
> > >> > Jim
> > >> >
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> --
> > >> Jake
> > >> 1984 Vanagon GL
> > >> 1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
> > >> Crescent Beach, BC
> > >> www.crescentbeachguitar.com
> > >> http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27
> >
>
>
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--
Jake
1984 Vanagon GL
1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
Crescent Beach, BC
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27